1,857 Stillbirths recorded in Ashanti in 2015

Stillbirth is reported to be on the surge in the Ashanti Region, a development the health providers find deeply worrying.

The region in year 2014 recorded a total of 1,823 stillbirths, and the figure shot up to 1,857 last year.

Dr Kwesi Yeboah Awudzi, the Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said this was being fuelled primarily by the increasing use of herbal mixtures by expectant mothers.

Some of them ignorantly resort to taking harmful herbal substances under the illusion that these would lessen the labour pain and aid smooth delivery.

He said in so doing they ended up endangering the life of the unborn baby.

Severe anaemia, malaria and conflicting blood group of parents (Rhesus factor) are the other causes.

He said mucus in the airways of a baby after birth and coiling of the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck could also result in the baby dying.

Dr Awudzi urged pregnant women to make sure they attended ante-natal clinic regularly and “to do as they are told” by the health professionals.

He said that was important to avoid complications and to ensure safe delivery.

He spoke of stepped up training of traditional birth attendants to control the growing miscarriage and death of newborn babies.

He also appealed to the government to adequately equip the health facilities with forceps, oxygen and drips to supervise safe deliveries.

GNA

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this news report do not necessarily reflect the position of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC)